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Construction of the ACT’s replacement Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) began on 27 October 2026 at the former plant site in Hume, Canberra. Veolia is delivering the project, construction is expected to take about 18 months, and the new facility is scheduled to open in 2028. It will restore local sorting of mixed recyclables after the previous MRF was destroyed by fire in late 2022; until then, the ACT continues sending recyclable material interstate for processing.
What has started at the Hume recycling site?
The ACT Government has confirmed that construction is under way at the former MRF site in the Hume Resource Recovery Estate. The project replaces the plant lost in the late-2022 fire and is intended to bring mixed-recycling processing back to Canberra rather than relying on interstate facilities.
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Why is the ACT building a replacement MRF?
The former facility’s destruction removed the territory’s local capability for receiving and sorting household mixed recycling. The ACT Government’s October 2026 update says approximately 50,000 tonnes of recyclable material is being transported interstate each year. A September 2025 release cited approximately 46,000 tonnes, so the figures describe different reporting dates rather than a single fixed annual total.
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A replacement plant is intended to shorten that dependence on interstate processing and provide modern equipment designed for higher-volume, more automated recovery. The project also addresses site access, traffic movement and fire protection, all of which are important in a facility handling large quantities of combustible paper, cardboard and plastics.
What materials will the new facility process?
The MRF will receive mixed streams containing paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, steel and aluminium. Its design capacity is up to 115,000 tonnes of mixed recyclables per year, giving the ACT headroom beyond the volume currently reported as being moved interstate.
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- Glass purification: a dedicated plant will clean and refine recovered glass.
- Screening: mechanical screens will separate paper and other material by size and shape.
- Plastic identification: laser-based optical systems will recognise plastic types, while air jets direct identified items into the correct streams.
- Metal recovery: magnets will extract steel and other ferrous metals, with aluminium recovered through the wider separation system.
- Data and safety controls: improved data systems will support monitoring, and state-of-the-art fire detection, mitigation and suppression systems are included in the design.
How does the replacement compare with the former facility?
The project is not simply a rebuild on the same footprint. It changes the processing model by combining greater nominal throughput with newer identification, purification and fire-safety systems.
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| Aspect | Former MRF | Replacement MRF |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Destroyed by fire in late 2022 | Construction began 27 October 2026; opening planned for 2028 |
| Annual throughput | Capacity not stated in the current project updates | Up to 115,000 tonnes of mixed recyclables per year |
| Processing location while unavailable | Local processing before the fire | Interstate processing continues during construction; local processing is planned after opening |
| Sorting and purity equipment | Previous plant’s equipment was lost in the fire | Glass purification, screens, automatic recognition, laser optical identification with air jets and magnetic separation |
| Fire protection | Facility was destroyed by fire | New detection, mitigation and suppression systems are part of the design |
| Operating model | Former arrangement ended after the fire | Veolia will design, build and operate the plant under a 20-year operating contract after opening |
Who is delivering and funding the project?
Veolia was selected through a competitive procurement process to design, build and operate the facility. The ACT and Australian governments are jointly funding the project, including support through the Recycling Modernisation Fund. An ACT Government release described a $26 million grant.
Employment projections depend on the stage being described. A January 2025 announcement projected more than 130 new jobs for the project, while a September 2025 release estimated more than 100 construction jobs and 24 permanent operating roles. These figures should not be combined: they refer to different stages and scopes of employment.
What site improvements are included besides the processing plant?
The works include upgrades to Recycling Road, intended to improve access, safety and traffic movements within the Hume Resource Recovery Estate. The project also provides a dedicated education space for schools, community groups and residents to learn about recycling and resource recovery.
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That education component gives the facility a public-facing role in addition to its industrial function. It is designed to explain how collected material is separated and why keeping recyclables free of contamination matters to recovery outcomes.
What happens to Canberra’s recycling before the new MRF opens?
Recyclable material continues to be handled through interim arrangements while construction proceeds. The replacement facility is therefore a future change in processing location and capability, not an immediate change to the collection system. Residents should follow the ACT’s current recycling guidance until the government announces operational changes for the new plant.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the project’s planning and delivery timeline?
The project moved from planning into construction after environmental and development approvals were secured. With construction now started and an approximately 18-month build period, the next major milestone is completion and commissioning ahead of the planned 2028 opening. The operating contract begins after the facility is commissioned, when Veolia takes responsibility for running the MRF.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When were the environmental and development approvals granted?
The Built for CBR project record lists final Environmental Impact Statement approval in November 2025. Development approval followed on 1 September 2026, before construction began on 27 October 2026.
Will household recycling collections change while the plant is being built?
The ACT Government says Re.Group remains the interim recycling-services contractor and that no changes to current recycling management are planned before completion. Any later change would need to be announced as the replacement facility approaches operation.
Why do official job estimates use different numbers?
The more-than-130 figure came from a January 2025 project announcement covering projected new jobs. The later estimate separated the workforce into more than 100 construction jobs and 24 ongoing operating roles, so the totals reflect different project stages rather than a corrected single count.
Does the 115,000-tonne figure mean the plant will receive that much every year?
No. It is the facility’s stated maximum design capacity for mixed recyclables, not a guarantee of annual intake. Actual throughput will depend on the material available to the ACT system and how the plant operates after commissioning.
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